Welcome to 2Welcome to 2ndnd Grade!Grade!

Meet the TeamMeet the Team

Grade Level ProjectGrade Level Project

Winter Market Day- December 2, 2011Winter Market Day- December 2, 2011Students will learn to be both a producer and a Students will learn to be both a producer and a consumer through an interactive Economics Unit.consumer through an interactive Economics Unit.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS KEY TO SUCCESS!!!PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS KEY TO SUCCESS!!!

Field Trips Field Trips To Be DeterminedTo Be Determined

Children’s Museum Children’s Museum for science exhibitfor science exhibit(February)(February)

Innerspace CavernsInnerspace Caverns Zac Scott TheaterZac Scott Theater GattitownGattitown

Paid for in Student Paid for in Student FeesFees

Class T-shirts requiredClass T-shirts required Purpose is to extend Purpose is to extend

22ndnd grade learning grade learning Parents welcomeParents welcome Siblings are best left at Siblings are best left at

home- let the focus be home- let the focus be on the 2on the 2ndnd graders graders

Class FeesClass FeesYou may write a check to Baranoff Elementary.Be sure to include your child’s name.

If you pay in cash, please put it in an envelope with teacher and child’s name.

If you need to pay in installments, please discuss with teacher.

You will receive a receipt from the teacher.

Homework AND Class Work Homework AND Class Work ExpectationsExpectations

Late work will be completed for homework.Late work will be completed for homework. Consistent failure to complete or hand in Consistent failure to complete or hand in

assignments in a timely manner will result in a assignments in a timely manner will result in a Parent/Teacher Conference.Parent/Teacher Conference.

More than 3 late homework assignments More than 3 late homework assignments prevents opportunity for Citizenship Awardprevents opportunity for Citizenship Award..

Homework Grade Homework Grade will be affected on the report will be affected on the report card depending on the amount of card depending on the amount of Late Homework. Late Homework. Completes Work in a Timely Manner Completes Work in a Timely Manner will be will be affected on the report card for consistently late affected on the report card for consistently late class work.class work.

Homework- Homework- Friday to Friday to FridayFriday Reading / FluencyReading / Fluency

Read a minimum of 20 minutes per night with an adult.Read a minimum of 20 minutes per night with an adult. Write summary in Homework Journal nightly.Write summary in Homework Journal nightly. Fluency Handout Fluency Handout due Fridaydue Friday

SpellingSpelling M-Th Complete Nightly Activity from Choice Sheet.M-Th Complete Nightly Activity from Choice Sheet. Pre-Test on Friday & Final Test on following FridayPre-Test on Friday & Final Test on following Friday Teacher will not check nightly work Teacher will not check nightly work UNLESSUNLESS student scores 70% or less on student scores 70% or less on

Friday test on 2 consecutive tests.Friday test on 2 consecutive tests.

MathMath +/- Nightly Practice using skill page- +/- Nightly Practice using skill page- due Fridaydue Friday Skill Review as neededSkill Review as needed

PLEASE REVIEW HOMEWORK EACH NIGHTPLEASE REVIEW HOMEWORK EACH NIGHT… … Your student still needs you!Your student still needs you!

Spelling Lists & TestSpelling Lists & Test

Pretest given to ALL on FridayPretest given to ALL on Friday Pretest determines Basic or *Challenge ListPretest determines Basic or *Challenge List 9 -10 correct = Challenge List (*teacher discretion)9 -10 correct = Challenge List (*teacher discretion) Graded on 100% scaleGraded on 100% scale BasicBasic = 10 words = 10 words ChallengeChallenge = 10 words = 10 words Choice of Homework ActivitiesChoice of Homework Activities HOMEWORK COMPLETED WITH FAMILY HOMEWORK COMPLETED WITH FAMILY

NIGHTLY… NIGHTLY… Something NewSomething New: As long as your : As long as your student is learning & applying the spelling pattern, student is learning & applying the spelling pattern, written work is not collected. Keep that grade written work is not collected. Keep that grade above 70% to keep this privilege!above 70% to keep this privilege!

AbsencesAbsences A note with a basic explanation is needed for A note with a basic explanation is needed for ANYANY absence absence

(Office needs this within 2 days)(Office needs this within 2 days)

1 absence1 absence in a Nine Weeks results in in a Nine Weeks results in ineligibilityineligibility for Perfect for Perfect Attendance Award.Attendance Award.

3 or more 3 or more tardiestardies in 9 weeks period results in in 9 weeks period results in ineligibilityineligibility for for Perfect Attendance Award.Perfect Attendance Award.

On Time means you are with your teacher at 7:45.On Time means you are with your teacher at 7:45.We prefer you here at 7:30 for Morning Assembly.We prefer you here at 7:30 for Morning Assembly.Breakfast line closes at 7:30.Breakfast line closes at 7:30.

Students are given 3 days to complete work for a one day Students are given 3 days to complete work for a one day absence and extended absences will be dealt with individually.absence and extended absences will be dealt with individually.

Check the Take Home/ Homework Folder for makeup work. Check the Take Home/ Homework Folder for makeup work. Contact the teacher if you would like to pick it up the same day or Contact the teacher if you would like to pick it up the same day or have it sent home with someone.have it sent home with someone.

DismissalDismissal Please send a written note if you have a change of plans!Please send a written note if you have a change of plans!

If you email or call during the day, do not assume we If you email or call during the day, do not assume we receive the message unless we confirm! Substitutes do not receive the message unless we confirm! Substitutes do not have access to our email or voicemail.have access to our email or voicemail.

If you call, please contact the office! They will pass you on If you call, please contact the office! They will pass you on to our voice mail or will page the room if necessary. Each to our voice mail or will page the room if necessary. Each time we have to answer a call during the day, students and time we have to answer a call during the day, students and teacher lose focus on learning.teacher lose focus on learning.

If you do not have confirmation by 2:30, you may call If you do not have confirmation by 2:30, you may call the office and ask them to contact the teacher.the office and ask them to contact the teacher.

Conference Day Conference Day October 10October 10thth

Review Reading Abilities, Review Reading Abilities, Math Skills, Social Behavior Math Skills, Social Behavior & strengths/weaknesses& strengths/weaknesses Set goals togetherSet goals together About 20 minutes longAbout 20 minutes long Set up a conference time with your child’s teacher.Set up a conference time with your child’s teacher.

Feb. 20: Spring Conference will be Student Led. Feb. 20: Spring Conference will be Student Led. This is not a 3 day weekend. This is not a 3 day weekend. Feb. 20 is a day your child needs to present the Student Led Conference Feb. 20 is a day your child needs to present the Student Led Conference among his/her peers. Please make plans to attend with your student. It is among his/her peers. Please make plans to attend with your student. It is very important your child have the chance to showcase him/her self for you!very important your child have the chance to showcase him/her self for you!

Please make sure your child’s teacher has your email address! We use it Please make sure your child’s teacher has your email address! We use it frequently!frequently!

TestingTesting DRA & TPRIDRA & TPRI are administered 3 times a year to identify your are administered 3 times a year to identify your

child’s reading comprehension, reading fluency & spelling abilities.child’s reading comprehension, reading fluency & spelling abilities.

TPRITPRI tests spelling, oral fluency & comprehension on both fiction tests spelling, oral fluency & comprehension on both fiction and non fiction text, based on 2and non fiction text, based on 2ndnd grade level. grade level.

DRADRA tests oral fluency, comprehension and predictions based on tests oral fluency, comprehension and predictions based on individual reading levels. individual reading levels.

District Benchmark TestsDistrict Benchmark Tests are administered at the end of the are administered at the end of the year to see your child’s progress and identify growth areas in year to see your child’s progress and identify growth areas in Reading and Math. Reading and Math.

FluencyFluency By the end of second grade a student in AISD is By the end of second grade a student in AISD is

expected to be reading 90 words per minute. This is expected to be reading 90 words per minute. This is commonly referred to as commonly referred to as FluencyFluency. .

Have your child Have your child read aloudread aloud as often as possible to as often as possible to enhance speed and accuracy.enhance speed and accuracy.

Fluency Homework isFluency Homework is given weekly. Student is to given weekly. Student is to read the passage and parent will mark off the one read the passage and parent will mark off the one minute mark each day. The goal is to get past that minute mark each day. The goal is to get past that mark each day. The activity on the back is to be mark each day. The activity on the back is to be completed WITH A PARENT. This is to be handed in completed WITH A PARENT. This is to be handed in on Friday- not sooner because it is to be read daily! on Friday- not sooner because it is to be read daily!

It is very important for students to understand It is very important for students to understand what is being read, so they can what is being read, so they can applyapply it. it.

We are moving beyond learning We are moving beyond learning to read and to read and more into reading to more into reading to LEARN.LEARN.

Students need to read various genres:Students need to read various genres:

NarrativeNarrative Historical fiction Historical fiction FantasyFantasy Test taking Test taking NonfictionNonfiction Instructions Instructions Poems Poems Recipes & Menus Recipes & Menus Magazines Magazines Biography Biography ComicsComics Mystery Mystery

Help your child

build stamina and

endurance..

Social ExpectationsSocial Expectations

Students are responsible for themselves.Students are responsible for themselves.

Students must remember to take lunch kit to lunch or Students must remember to take lunch kit to lunch or turn lunch money in in the morning.turn lunch money in in the morning.

Students are to pack their HW Folder each day and Students are to pack their HW Folder each day and return with the folder the next morning.return with the folder the next morning.

Students do not call home for forgotten things.Students do not call home for forgotten things.

Social ExpectationsSocial Expectations

Students are to bring the appropriate homework and Students are to bring the appropriate homework and folder as needed.folder as needed.

Take Home/ Homework Folder comes to school daily.Take Home/ Homework Folder comes to school daily.

A A Verbal WarningVerbal Warning will be given to student the first will be given to student the first time…and discipline procedures will proceed from this time…and discipline procedures will proceed from this point if behavior becomes routine. You will be notified point if behavior becomes routine. You will be notified at this point.at this point.

Social ExpectationsSocial Expectations

Student is responsible for emptying backpack Student is responsible for emptying backpack and folder contents each morning and turning and folder contents each morning and turning in materials to appropriate locations. in materials to appropriate locations.

A reminder will be given to the class but the A reminder will be given to the class but the teacher cannot be expected to go through each teacher cannot be expected to go through each child’s backpack or folder each day.child’s backpack or folder each day.

GradingGrading

You donYou don’’t understand! 1t understand! 1 Your work doesn’t make sense.Your work doesn’t make sense. Your answers are wrong.Your answers are wrong. You need more practice.You need more practice. Sentences are difficult to read and punctuation/capitalization is rarely Sentences are difficult to read and punctuation/capitalization is rarely

applied.applied.

You have some You have some understandingunderstanding. 2. 2 You didn’t do all you could.You didn’t do all you could. You have some right and wrong answers.You have some right and wrong answers. You need to practice more.You need to practice more. Sentences are challenging to read and punctuation/capitalization is Sentences are challenging to read and punctuation/capitalization is

sometimes applied.sometimes applied.

GradingGrading

You understand 2You understand 2ndnd grade skills! 3 grade skills! 3 You show your work with You show your work with wordswords, , numbersnumbers, ,

sentencessentences, , picturespictures and and diagramsdiagrams!! Your work is clear to anyone who reads your work.Your work is clear to anyone who reads your work. Your thoughts and ideas make sense.Your thoughts and ideas make sense. You have checked for mistakes and gone back to You have checked for mistakes and gone back to

correct.correct. You apply use of punctuation and capitalization You apply use of punctuation and capitalization

appropriately most of the time.appropriately most of the time. Your work shows QUALITY.Your work shows QUALITY. WOW!!!WOW!!!

GradingGrading Your work is exceptional & above grade level!Your work is exceptional & above grade level! 4 4 You have full understanding of 2You have full understanding of 2ndnd grade skills. grade skills. You used many ideas and strategies.You used many ideas and strategies. You use creative thinking and play with different strategies until You use creative thinking and play with different strategies until

you find one that works.you find one that works. Your work convinces others.Your work convinces others. Your work shows Your work shows QUALITYQUALITY.. You come up with different ways to You come up with different ways to solve on your own.solve on your own. You use colorful language and details. You are consistently You use colorful language and details. You are consistently

applying spelling rules, & punctuation, capitalization applying spelling rules, & punctuation, capitalization appropriately. Your sentence structure is more complex.appropriately. Your sentence structure is more complex.

You are able to teach others.You are able to teach others. Your work appears ABOVE GRADE LEVEL!Your work appears ABOVE GRADE LEVEL!

GRADED & CHECKED WORKGRADED & CHECKED WORK

Sent home on Thursdays.Sent home on Thursdays. Please review with your childPlease review with your child.. If there is a note to return to teacher, If there is a note to return to teacher,

please do so after you and your child please do so after you and your child have reviewed together, otherwise, it is have reviewed together, otherwise, it is not necessary to do so.not necessary to do so.

What’s New?What’s New?

No more TAKS test!No more TAKS test! STAAR test replaces TAKS test.STAAR test replaces TAKS test. STAAR test in 3STAAR test in 3rdrd grade is written on a 4 grade is written on a 4thth

grade reading level!grade reading level! STAAR test is timed.STAAR test is timed. Students have been expected to reach a Students have been expected to reach a

DRA 28 at the end of 2DRA 28 at the end of 2ndnd grade to be grade to be prepared for 3prepared for 3rdrd Grade Expectations. Grade Expectations.

AISD is moving toward a AISD is moving toward a goal of ensuring that goal of ensuring that students are prepared for students are prepared for college, career, and life.college, career, and life.

Texas & national Texas & national standards are evolving to standards are evolving to include expectations for include expectations for college readiness.college readiness.

Those expectations for Those expectations for college readiness are college readiness are central to the design of central to the design of the new STAAR the new STAAR Assessments.Assessments.

The foundations for The foundations for college-readiness are college-readiness are established in Kinder, 1established in Kinder, 1stst and 2and 2ndnd Grades! Grades!

What’s gonna change?What’s gonna change? End of year reading levels in AISD are End of year reading levels in AISD are

now identified in two categoriesnow identified in two categories::

Satisfactory= 28Satisfactory= 28College Ready=38College Ready=38

Our goal this year for your child is to reach Our goal this year for your child is to reach DRA 30 due to this being our first year DRA 30 due to this being our first year implementing the new expectations.implementing the new expectations.

We, as teachers, can’t do this alone.We, as teachers, can’t do this alone.

NEW AISD DRA READING NEW AISD DRA READING EXPECTATIONSEXPECTATIONS

SATISFACTORYSATISFACTORY Beginning of YearBeginning of Year

DRA 18DRA 18 Middle of YearMiddle of Year

DRA 24DRA 24 End of YEAREnd of YEAR

DRA 28DRA 28

COLLEGE READYCOLLEGE READY Beginning of YearBeginning of Year

DRA 24DRA 24 Middle of YearMiddle of Year

DRA 30DRA 30 End of YEAREnd of YEAR

DRA 38DRA 38

We need your help!We need your help! In class, we will have daily guided reading groups and centers.In class, we will have daily guided reading groups and centers.

Centers will be rich in reading! Centers will be rich in reading! Read to Self, Word Work & Read to BuddyRead to Self, Word Work & Read to Buddy

We hope to set up parent volunteers to meet with students individually to We hope to set up parent volunteers to meet with students individually to sit and listen to them read during our centers time.sit and listen to them read during our centers time.

Students must read every night! This includes the weekend. Students must read every night! This includes the weekend. Summaries are expected Monday through Thursday in the HW Summaries are expected Monday through Thursday in the HW Journal.Journal.

Students are more prone to read if they see family members reading Students are more prone to read if they see family members reading together, and less likely to read if some are watching tv or playing together, and less likely to read if some are watching tv or playing video games while they are banished to a homework room. Promote video games while they are banished to a homework room. Promote reading as a family!reading as a family!

Why Can't I Skip My Twenty Why Can't I Skip My Twenty Minutes of Reading Minutes of Reading Tonight?Tonight?

Student A reads 20 minutes every night; Student A reads 20 minutes every night; Student B reads only 4 minutes a night Student B reads only 4 minutes a night … or not at all! … or not at all!

Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week. week.

Student AStudent A20 minutes x 5 = 100 20 minutes x 5 = 100 minutesminutes

Student B Student B 4 minutes x 5 = 20 minutes 4 minutes x 5 = 20 minutes

Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.

Student A reads 400 minutes a month.

Student B reads 80 minutes a month.

Multiply minutes a month x 9 months.

Student A reads 3600 minutes in a Student A reads 3600 minutes in a school year.school year.

Student B reads 728 minutes in a Student B reads 728 minutes in a school year.school year.

Student A reads the Student A reads the equivalent of ten whole equivalent of ten whole school days a year.school days a year.

Student B reads the Student B reads the equivalent of only two equivalent of only two whole school days a year. whole school days a year.

By the end of 6th grade Student A and By the end of 6th grade Student A and Student B maintain these same reading Student B maintain these same reading

habits…habits… Student A will have read the equivalent of Student A will have read the equivalent of

60 whole school days60 whole school days. .

Student B will have read the equivalent of Student B will have read the equivalent of only only 12 school days. 12 school days.

One would expect the One would expect the gap of information gap of information retained will have retained will have widened considerably widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will and so, undoubtedly, will school performance. school performance.

How do you think Student B will feel How do you think Student B will feel about him/herself as a student? about him/herself as a student?

Which student would read better? Which student would read better? Which student would know more? Which student would know more? Which student would write better? Which student would write better? Which student would have a better Which student would have a better

vocabulary? vocabulary? Which student would be more successful Which student would be more successful

in school and life? in school and life?

By working together, your child By working together, your child will succeed!will succeed!

Let’s be partners!Let’s be partners!

Thank you for coming Thank you for coming tonight!tonight!

Please remember to visit the classroom!Please remember to visit the classroom! Take a look around at posted work in the Take a look around at posted work in the

hallway and in the room.hallway and in the room.Feel free to look through your child’s Feel free to look through your child’s desk :) desk :)

Curriculum Night ends at 7:30.Curriculum Night ends at 7:30.GOOD NIGHT.GOOD NIGHT.